Abused dog from Taiwan finds a sweet home in the U.S.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- “Once I met him, I knew it was a perfect match,” Erin Zickenberg talked of her first sight with her new dog, Adam that was rescued in Taiwan.

Zickenberg, a retired computer specialist who just lost her husband, read the story of Adam on the Web site last December. “When I found out he was coming to my area of Washington, it seemed like he was being sent for me,” said Zickenberg.

Adam was a mixed dog that was rescued after being splashed with corrosive chemicals last September in a park in Taiwan, said Antony Ni, a volunteer worker with Animal Rescue Team Taiwan (ARTT).

The puppy was found covered with blood, its ears flipped backwards and the right eye severely damaged.

The volunteer workers and netizens raised more than NT$50,000 donations online for the expenses for its two-month long medical treatment.

ARTT put Adam's story on Petfinders, a leading Web site for pet adoption in the U.S.; the post topped the most-read chart on the site for two weeks.

“I just needed something to need me; I have my heart for him regardless what scars he has,” said Zickenberg, who decided to welcome Adam into her family during the Christmas season, when she described as a particularly painful time for her to face her husband's death.

The match was not only a new form of life for Zickenberg, but also for Adam, which just got a new name, Lucky, from its foster parent, because “he is a lucky dog to have been rescued and taken care of by the rescue project in Taiwan.”

According to Zickenberg, Lucky is well trained and weights 20 pounds, 6 pounds more than he weighed a month ago.

Zickenberg appreciated all the love and help that had been given to Lucky, who is now a healthy and happy dog.

soundy106@ wrote:Does anyone stop to think it could have been an ACCIDENT?

Like "it was an accident" is any excuse for leaving it to die or suffer with those injuries? Any responsible pet owner would never let their animals in the vicinity of corrosive acids. Get real. There is NO excuse for not leaving the poor thing at the nearest hospital.

Well I think if my puppy was splashed with acid I would have taken it to the vets, not left it to die. I am certainly glad I don’t live over there, I wouldn’t be taking my puppy for a walk in a park if that happens all the time. And if it was an accident, why did they not own up and collect their puppy and pay the vet bill then, instead of volunteers and the public foot the bill? Come on we all know it was no accident. Thank goodness we have people in the community that actually cares, unlike some!

I'm against animal cruelty but sadly there are too many stray animals that need to be put down. Instead of having signs warning not to feed dogs, they should be shot. Not only are they dangerous, walking into traffic and potential to attack but they pollute.

curtisakbar@ wrote:I'm against animal cruelty but sadly there are too many stray animals that need to be put down. Instead of having signs warning not to feed dogs, they should be shot. Not only are they dangerous, walking into traffic and potential to attack but they pollute.

You have the mind of a serial killer, hope you get a wake up call very soon.

soundy106@ wrote:Does anyone stop to think it could have been an ACCIDENT?

An accident? Really? Do [people] like you really walk this earth and are allowed to breathe…and live among us? Splashed with an accelerate, -- 4mnth old PUPPY -- do you really think it's an accident? You're a j**k***.

curtisakbar@ wrote:I'm against animal cruelty but sadly there are too many stray animals that need to be put down. Instead of having signs warning not to feed dogs, they should be shot. Not only are they dangerous, walking into traffic and potential to attack but they pollute.

You’re gonna use pollution as an excuse to kill animals dude? You might as well kill every single human being that drives a car or smokes weed or cigarettes or does any of the billion things that does a whole lot more pollution than animals do. I can’t even think of how they pollute anything? I think you need to go back to school and learn a few things b4 you spew off on things u know nothing about.

Yes, dogs pollute or do you think that their feces is good for the environment. How can you say that having a children's playground covered with dog waste isn't pollution? Do you want your children playing there? Your argument about people polluting more is frankly pathetic. Unless you live a hunter-gather life, of course you will pollute more than animals. This has nothing to do with the current argument that stray animals should be humanely killed. So it is you that needs to go back to school and learn a few things before you spew off on things you know nothing about.